BRITAIN PREPARES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 5

BRITAIN PREPARES

NATIONAL EFFORT SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS ANOTHER BERLIN ERROR STAND BY POLAND GERMAN TROOPS MUST GO (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 11. 9 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 9. The Ministry tol Information states that the British Cabinet is basing its policy on the assumption that the war will last for three years or longer.

The Ministry of Supply will forthwith act to ensure the productive capacity of munitions is increased in scale to meet every possible demand. The Admiralty and the Air Ministry are making arrangements correspondingly.

In the great national effort implicit in the War Cabinet’s decision, the civil needs will be minded and also the importance of maintaining the export trade is receiving due attention. The War Cabinet is confident that this • significant decision will be whole-heartedly supported by the British peoples and will be welcomed by their friends and Allies.

The British Official Wireless Service states' that the indication apparent in the German comment that the Nazi leaders hope to turn to account whatever initial success the superior weight of their arms in Poland may bring in seeking an early settlement is regarded in London as evidence that Herr Hitler and his colleagues are adding another to the series of miscalculations which brought the war upon Europe, subjected Poland to the horrors of invasion, and the German people themselves to privations: and misery of hopelessness.

The correspondent of the United Press of America states that in response to Marshal Goering’s hints that Germany i$ ready for an “honourable peace,” the official spokesman announced that Britain was not ready to negotiate until the German troops were entirely withdrawn from Poland.

The'correspondent of the New York Times. commenting on Marshal Goering’s speech and the British announcement concerning the preparation for three years of war, states: “This is Britain’s emphatic and unmistakable answer to Marshal Goering’s suggestion thht Britain might be prepared to reconsider the position- and was also a reply to the ‘wishful thinkers’ who are accepting, at face value, rumours of discontent in Germany. It is known that there is discontent, . but. well-informed quarters feel it will be a long time before it is serious enough to count as a real factor.

“The war is unpopular in Germany, but it is not believed that Nazism will crack until Germany is hit so hard that the Germans are ready to brave the Gestapo in order to discard Nazism.

“Officially emphasis is laid less on the assumption that the war will last three years than on the pledges that Britain is determined to see it through. There is not the slightest doubt that the Government expressed the nation’s firm resolve.

“The real point in Marshal Goering’s speech lies in his appeal to Mr. Chamberlain. Evidently the German leaders are sjill hoping that, the French and British resolution to fight Nazism to the bitter end is not irrevocable. They will learn the mistakenness of that hope.”